Tablecloth



Feb. 25, 1930. H KOPUN 1,748,179

TABLECLOTH Filed Jan. 28, 192e 2 sheets-Sheet 1 fww Jiffy.

Feb. 25, 1930. H KOPLlN 1,748,179

TABLE-:CLOTH Filed Jan. 28, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 IIIIII VIII'IIIII Patented Feb. 2s', 1930 PATENT OFFICE HARRY KOPLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- TABLECLOTH Application led January 28, 1928. Serial No. 250,250.

My invention relates to improvements in table cloths .or the like, and more particularly to continuous table cloths.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a table cloth which may be moved to bring a clean portion thereof to the top of the table after each use, thereby dispensing with the necessity of changing the used cloth for a clean one.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a continuous table cloth attachment which may be readily applied to any table.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a continuous table cloth attachment which is simply constructed, is easy to attach and remove, inexpensive to manufacture, strong andldurable.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speciication, and wherein like characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the upper portion of a table having my invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through the center of the table at right angles to Figure 1, and showing the method of attaching my device to a table. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the'line 3 3 of Figure 1 looking in the directon of thc arrows,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the table and attachment,

Figure 51s a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the method of attaching the cloth rolls and the arrangement of the operating lever, and

Figure 6 is a detail view of the end of the operating lever, showing it in its inoperative position, parts being in section.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the top of a table having legs 11 at each corner thereof. A longitudinally extending rod 12 is supported centrally of the table by means of screws or bolts 13, in spaced relation to the under side of the table top. lA roller casing comprises rigid end walls 14 and 15 connected by a sheet of material 16 which conforms to the edges of the end walls 14 to form the side and bottom walls of the casing. sleeve or tube 17 connects the end walls midway of their ends and immediately adjacent their top edges, the sleeve being split longitudinally for its entire length in order that it may be fitted over the end of the rod 12 and telescoped therewith, the screws or bolts 13 fitting within the slit portion of the sleeve, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. I

The sleeve 17 extends entirely through the wall 14, but only partially through the wall 15. In positioning the casing beneath the table, the easing-is arranged with its end wall 14 foremost, and the open end of the sleeve 17 is itted over the rod 12, from which position the casing may be slid under the table until the end of the rod 12 abuts against the end wall 15 which closes the end of the sleeve 17 as shown in Figure 2.

A pair of roller guides 18 {it in spaced openings 19 in thewall 14 and have exterior flanges 20 and frusto-conical ends 21 adapted to extend through the openings 19 into the casing. The outer ends of the guides 18 are secured to the ends of a spring member 22 which is in turn secured midway of its ends to the end wall 140i the casing. It will be seen that the guides 18 can only be moved outwardly against the tension of the spring member 22.

The wall 15 is provided with a pair of openings 23 arranged diametrically opposite to the openings 19, and which receive the roller guides 24 and 25, corresponding in shape to the guides 18. A tubular roller 26 is arranged between the guide 24 and the corresponding guidc 18, and a similar roller 27 is arranged between the guide 25, and the corresponding guide 18, the ends of the rollers tting over the ends of the guides. The frusto-conical ends of the guides 24 and 25 are providedwith pins or projections adapted to be received in bayonet slots 29 in the ends of the rollers, to lock the rollers in posi tion and to assure the turning of the rollers upon rotation of the guides 24 and 25.'

A crank arm 30 is pivoted to a securing member 31 which is attached to the outer end of the guide 24. The opposite end of the crank arm 30 is provided with a knob 32,

and a toothed disk 33 is attached to the crank the guides 25 and 18 by forcing the guide 18 outwardly against the tension of the spring 422 and allowing it to return and enter the roller. When in this position the end of the cloth is drawn over the upper edge of the sidewall of the easing and the casing is then slidinto position on the rod 12. Any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for holding the casing in position, or the tension'of the cloth lmay be relied upon to perform this function. The cloth is then drawn over the top of the table, into the casing at the other end, and fastened to the roller.

26 as at 38. The side wall of the casing may be provided with an opening'to permit access to the roller 26 to fasten the endof the cloth or this opening may be provide'dl with a hinged gate or door 39.

Rotation of the roller 26 is effected by swinging the crank arm 30 through an arc of 180o and rotating by meansgof the knob 32. Whenthe cloth has been moved until a clean surface is presented lat the top of the table, the crank arm is swungback until the knob enters the bore 34 andthe pin 36, engaging the teeth of the disk 33, will prevent rotation of the roller 37, thus assuring that the cloth will remain taut. In order to allow the roller 27 to be moved until the pin engages the teeth of the disk, the exterior flange of the guide 25 is provided with projections 40 adapted to be grasped by the hand to rotate the guide suiiiciently to allow registration of the pin 36 and the spaces between the teeth on the disk.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a table, of a pair l of rollers associated therewith, a cloth wound on one of said rollers and extending over said table and fastened to the other roller, means on said last named roller to eiect rotation thereof, and means on said first named roller to engage said rotating means to lock the rollers against rotation.

2. The combination with a table of a roller casing, a supporting member on' said table, means on said casing to detachably engage said supportin member, a pair of rollers 1n said casing-an a cloth wound on one of said rollers and extending over the'table and fastened to the other roller.'

3. The combination with a table, of a pair of rollers associated therewith, a cloth wound on one of said rollers and extending over the table and fastened to the other roller, a crank arm secured to the last named roller to eiect rotation thereof, and means on said first named roller to normally engage the crank arm and prevent rotation of the rollers.

4. The combination with a table, of a pair of rollers associated therewith, a cloth wound on one of said rollers and passing over the table, and fastened to the other roller, a crank arm adapted to be used to effect rotation of the last named roller, means on said first named roller to normally engage the crank arm to prevent rotation of the last named roller, and means on said crank arm to normally engage the first named roller to prevent its rotation. v

5. The combination with a table, of a pair of rollers associated therewith, a cloth wound on one of said rollers and passing over the table and fastened to the other roller, a crank arm pivotally secured to said last named roller and having a knob on its end, saidcrank arm being adapted to eil'ect rotation of the roller, means on said first named roller to normally engage the knob on the crank arm to prevent rotation of the last named roller, a toothed member on said crank arm, and means on said first named roller to normally engage said toothed member to prevent rotation of said iirst named rollers.

6. The combination with a table, of a casing supported thereon, a pair of spring pressed roller guides extending into said casing, a pair of roller guides extending into the opposite side of said casing, av pair of rollers supported on said guides and keyed to said last named guides to rotate therewith, means to rotate one of saidl last named roller guides, and means on the other of said last named means and lock the roller guides and rollers against rotation. 7 The combination with a table, of a pair of rollers arranged therebeneath, a cloth wound on one of said rollers, and extending over the table and fastened to the other roller, and means carried by one roller and adapted to normally engage the other roller to lock said rollers against rotation.

8. The'combination with a table, of a roller casing secured 'thereto,.a pair of rollers arranged in said casing, a cloth wound on one vcio of said rollers and extending over, the table and fastened to the other roller, means carried by one roller for rotating said rollers, said rotating means normally engaging the other roller to lock the rollers aga-inst'J rotation.

In testimony whereof I aIiX my signature.

HARRY KOPLIN. 

